I can't believe it. After losing my dad in June, my relationship three weeks ago, and being sick for three days just last week, I raced the Trifecta Triathlon on Saturday, September 20. The dawn sky was surreal in its hues of blue and rose. This was my eleventh triathlon and my seventh Olympic distance … Continue reading Trifecta Triathlon 2015
Next Stop for Accelerate.LGBT: Dublin, Ireland
As a writer with a penchant for exploring LGBT issues and triumphs with my characters, this move toward a more inviting and inclusive WordPress workforce warms my heart. Next Stop for Accelerate.LGBT: Dublin, Ireland.
The Curvature of Acceptance
"Hello readers! I am a young adult fiction writer through and through. However, I have a passion for writing poems as well, many of which deal with themes that align with young adult struggles and triumphs. Without further ado, I present 'The Curvature of Acceptance.'" THE CURVATURE OF ACCEPTANCE You might accept me as I … Continue reading The Curvature of Acceptance
The Power of an Apropos Post
Good Saturday readers! First off, I would like to admit something important: my blogging skills have become somewhat rusty in my last few months of absence. Sure, I would like to blame it solely on my time in grad school, but the truth is that I have allowed myself to completely slip away from a … Continue reading The Power of an Apropos Post
Eyes of Excruciation – Act 1
Dear reader: As I revive my blog and resume regular postings, I thought it would be fitting to start publishing some of my older YA short stories, poems, and musings. I am really proud of Eyes of Excruciation, a novella that I wrote during a difficult time in high school. I grappled with thoughts of … Continue reading Eyes of Excruciation – Act 1
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
First impressions: My first time immersing myself in a work by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Sleepwalking through life. That's what I feel like I've been doing since my dad passed away. Then I walked the aisles of Barnes and Noble a week ago. Plucked this book out of its forgotten corner of the shelf. I smiled at … Continue reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
A Eulogy for my Dad
I said goodbye to my father, Richard Calzada, on June 20, 2015. Standing on the border between this life and the next, I'm seeing now with unmatched clarity just how much love he carried in to this world. My father gave. To his family, to causes for all and beliefs that were true to his … Continue reading A Eulogy for my Dad
To You, Unsure Reader of Young Adult Novels
Greetings, my dear reader. I know that you're unsure about the young adult novel in your hands. I imagine certain thoughts are crossing your mind: I've read YA before, and it just wasn't for me; these books are always about growing up, high school dances, kids having rocky relationships with their parents or guardians, or trying … Continue reading To You, Unsure Reader of Young Adult Novels
Why I Write
I seek out tips on how to craft a compelling character in Writer's Digest. I read YA novels to garner new talking points for my latest blog entry. And I still (still!) delve into David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest, finding grief and irascible humor in the lives of his Ennet House residents, his Quebecois wheelchair assassins - and our … Continue reading Why I Write
The Pros and Cons of Beta Readers
Time for me to start looking.
You Young Adult Nostalgic 
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